Old Divisions of Race & Status

(Community Matters) In this morning’s AAS, a story about Old Divisions of race & status (sorry, can’t find the link). No way am I defending Austin or its institutions against these charges. Most definitely East Austin and its residents have suffered & sometimes still do suffer under institutional racism.

The coalition created to address Austin problems by starting off in St. John’s neighborhood is unprecedented. I don’t begrudge East Austin residents near and around the former Johnson High School for being disappointed that their neighborhood isn’t the initial demonstration target; however, Southwest Key Programs didn’t begin to approach the comprehensive coalition of cross-county, cross-city, multiple philanthropists/funders/elected leaders. Doesn’t mean their proposal doesn’t have merit. And, our community’s chances of securing the federal grant for this program is probably enhanced by AISD’s endorsement of only one and that one being the broadest coalition.

Having just sat through Childrens Optimal Health’s presentation at an AARO meeting this week, I know the need for services (especially among children) is very high in both geographical areas. I seem to remember that there are even more children in need in the St. John’s/Quail Creek area. And, there is a lot of very helpful, important baseline information (albeit dated) on hand from Neil Kocurek’s Root Cause Project.

Look at the breath of leadership among the Austin Achievement Zone team:

btw, I continue to express my concerns about Southwest Key governance and conflicts of interest. Their 2009 990 indicates that their CEO and CFO have a 66% ownership interest in a company from which Southwest Key rents property. At one time, I was told this provided extraordinary additional income to this nonprofit’s CEO

community matters

Eugene Sepulveda

Love big West Texas skies, Austin and my husband, Dr. Steven Robert Tomlinson, with whom I've spent the last 16 years - eleven years since we were married on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada.

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